Meet Me in the Bathroom

As a music documentary, this film is rubbish. However, given the chance to go behind the scenes to the early aught New York City rock scene, it was a riotously fun two hours.

Full disclosure, I've been obsessed with the Strokes since I first saw them in a small club. They are such a part of twenty-years-ago-me that I could not bear to see them play the large ballpark in my home city when they toured this year. Watching their early years on the big screen was the concert I needed this year. The majority of moments in this film is lavished on them, and that was just fine by me.

As a bonus, there is live footage, backstage scenes and interviews with the full indie, post-punk, pop-rock scene of that time which includes Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol and LCD Soundsystem.

Based on the book, Meet Me in the Bathroom: Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York City 2001-2011, the doc attempts to deliver on that title but has a frustrating, disruptive pacing throughout — from a lingering section on 9/11 intended to showcase its effect on rock culture but becomes a different film entirely, and a montage of bands with a purposely-contrasted Sinatra tune that dulls any rock vibes generated.

While the film's most interesting subjects, Julian Casablancas of the Strokes and James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, are not exactly dynamos in interviews, watching their rise through their music makes this a time capsule worth two hours after all.

In a nutshell: Is this it? Not a good documentary; but fans will completely enjoy the footage nevertheless.

Where to watch it: You must find a big screen for this. If not, it's on Showtime.

Award potential: None.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.